MiniSopGuy

This was most definately a hard decision to make, but was truely the only logical choice. We will definately miss being on the field in Annapolis and we wish all of the DCA corps a fun and successful season. We will still be on the field performing at DCI shows in California. So if you are out here, come see us and stop by and say hi. The trip to DCA championships is always a special for us and DCA has the greatest corps in the country. We have been a part of it in the past, and look forward to our return in the future.

A couple more people have helped out. THANK YOU!!! We are down to the last 48 hours, can you help too?

Most of you have seen us on the field, and we hope we have entertained you each year we traveled to DCA Championships. We have been planning on upgrading our front ensemble equipment for a few years and have been working towards that goal. Unfortunately, the condition of the equipment is dictating that we need to replace it right away but we are short of our funding goal at this time. Ok end of sob story, please keep reading. We are running an online donation campaign, and have received some large donations already. We appreciate those donations very much, but there are just not enough to reach our goal. We are not asking everyone to donate a large amount, in fact, it is those people that are only able to toss a couple dollars our way that will get us to our goal. If the fans of drum corps gave up just one cup of Starbucks coffee or, and I hate to ask this, a pint of beer and passed that money our way, we would reach our goal in no time at all. We have just 7 days left. Can you help us make our Dream a reality? Follow this link to our donation site. You can also relive our 2007 Championships performance there. Help make our Dream a reality.

SoCal Dream is using G horns this year......again

I have been writting field/winterguard/indoor drumline shows for over 16 years. I have been using Pyware almost the entire time. For indoor, I may sketch out ideas on Pyware, but I usually end up writting the form book at rehearsal. I prefer this way so I can get more input from the equipment and body staff. I can see their ideas and use those to help the flow of the form. I will then sketch it down and put a final version into Pyware to perfect intervals and such. The one problem I have always found with Pyware is when there are staggered counts to a move. Something I like to have in the form book to create visual effects. I end up writting in 4 count movements and it is a real pain as opposed to telling the performers at a rehearsal: "Here is where I want you to end up"; "Here is how I want you to get here"; "You start on count X, you start on count Y, and you start on count Z". Much easier. Plus I get real time feed back doing it in the gym. Pyware is great, but can never replace the creative mind and visual detail you get standing in the gym.

The one year it was definately a benefit to have gone on first!

Auditions: My first suggestion would be to contact them or search out their website for audition details. They are the only people who will know what is required and what you can expect. All of the details are normally provided and actually need to be especially if they require a prepared piece. Transportation: You may find that there are more people from your area auditioning and participating in their corps. Within most corps, you can usually find people to carpool with. Doing it: The last and most important point I would like to make is DO IT! And, YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD FOR DRUM CORPS! If you dont make C2, or if you do and march with them beyond their age limits, there are many other DCA corps that are all-age that you can march with. That is the beauty of the all age activity, you can march until your body can no longer do what is being required of the performer. Right now you are 18 and you have many great drum corps years ahead of you. Join in the fun, and enjoy!

Since we are now heading into the cold winter months, that must mean it is time again for drum corps to start heating up! For the 2012 season, SoCal Dream will be celebrating their 10th anniversary season! Big plans are in the works for our 10th year including a return to DCA Championships on the field and in the Mini Corps arena. For 2012, our otustanding brass caption head, Thom Willett, and amazing guard caption head, Lionel Icasiano, will be returning for another year. Watch for an announcement soon for percussion. Also, we are still looking for the right people to fill our visual caption head and tech positions. If you are interested, please send a resume, including references, to our corps director, Mike Nash, at director@socaldream.org SoCal Dream has once again entered into an agreement with Golden West College to use their facilities for the 2012 season. This opened additional performance opportunities for the corps and gives us a great facility for rehearsals. We are once again performing at all of GWC's home football games and we welcome all musicians to come sit in with us for these gigs. For more info with times and locations, send an email to membership@socaldream.org or info@socaldream.org We are looking forward to a great 2012 season!

I found it most interesting this year that, had the rules not changed, 2 A class corps would have been in Open class finals. It always got talked about in the past, but didnt happen. Perhaps until there are more corps in open class, open class prelims could be eliminated and they all perform Sunday evening. Then, move the Alumni Spectatular to Saturday afternoon followed immediately by A Class prelims (giving the entire A Class a chance to perform "under the lights"). Then take the top 5 A Class corps in prelims and have them compete in finals prior to Open class finals like it is currently on Sunday. One other thing that could be done is move the Mini Corps show back onto the field. It could be in the place of the current Alumni Spectacular, or leave Sunday how it currently is and have the Mini corps go on the field just prior to A Class prelims on Saturday. Just thoughts.....

This got passed over so just thought I would comment...Wow! That would add a new dimension to A class.

Services have been scheduled for Bart. All drum corps family members are welcome and we are putting together a mass brass ensemble to play Amazing Grace. We will get together the day of the service, just prior to the service to have a quick read. For music, please contact Mike Nash at director@socaldream.org Here are the details: Bart Cromwell Service/Celebration of Life Northminster Presbyterian Church 400 Rancheria Road Diamond Bar, CA 91765 Time: 11:00am Date: Monday, Sept. 12, 2011 Mass Brass Chorus Needed Bart requested that should be a Celebration An arrangement of Amazing Grace in G & B Flat would be Great All Drum Corps Family are welcome to celebrate...

As we see the events unfold for the 2011 DCA Championships, SoCal Dream is reminded of how fragile life can be. While we congratulate everyone on their prelims performance, SoCal Dream is mourning the loss of one of their own. Today we lost Bart Cromwell. Bart was a member of SoCal Dream as a baritone player and also as a Brass Tech. When posting about this loss, current brass caption head Thom Willett thanked Bart once again for all of his help with SoCal Dream. In addition to marching with SoCal Dream, Bart also marched with the Anaheim Kingsmen alumni corps in 2007. Bart was a very talented musician and a great person. He fought hard and will be missed, but never forgotten. Bart will live on in the history of SoCal Dream. R.I.P. Bart Cromwell. May you find a place in Heavens Drum Corps.

Always nice to get a corps on TV. I am not surprised by the news coverage of the show. Dayton has always been a great supporter of the performing arts. The way the city welcomes WGI every year is amazing.

After weeks and months of preparation, hard work, sweat, and sometimes pain or injury, it just seems so strange that our season is over. We worked so hard to get a production together, and then in 3 short weeks, it’s over. With our season being so short, and having little to no rehearsal time between shows, we set a goal to have our complete production on the field our first weekend out. We accomplished that goal. The first weekend was a bit rough, but it improved over the next two weekends and got better each time. On July 17th we had our last of 6 shows on 3 consecutive weekends. Our show this year made people laugh, made people cheer, and even made some stand on their feet. Whatever the crowd reaction, we enjoyed performing. This year, we had some of the largest audiences in stadiums around California. Being an “all-age” corps performing only at DCi shows, we usually go on first while people are out in the lot watching their favorite horse warming up. This year, most were in the stands. We got to show them what a DCA corps can do and they thanked us with their applause and cheers. That is a good feeling. As you all continue to prepare and perform the rest of the summer and work towards that magical September weekend in Rochester, I wish you well and hope you have great success in entertaining. I especially wish my former corps mates from SoCal Dream, who are now marching with other corps across the country, much success for all their hard work. SoCal Dream may not be making the trip to DCA Championships this year, but our thoughts and hearts are with all of our drum corps friends. To all of DCA, have a great finish to your 2011 season and remember, getting there is half the fun!

Just a little shout out...I enjoyed SCVC's show this past weekend. Keep up the good work. I look forward to seeing you again this weekend down here....stay away from the 405 freeway!

I wish Platinum well and hope they make it to the DCi field in the next couple seasons and I hope they do it with G horns. A couple arguments that always come up in the Bb/F vs G lines that I just don't buy into..... "The tuning of a G horn is horrible"... With the quality of the horns currently available from Kanstul, this is not an issue at all. I can not say the same about Dynasty horns because I have had nothing but problems with those. As a personal test, I sat down in front of a Peterson strobe tuner for a few hours with my Kanstul G Soprano, Bach 37 trumpet, Benge CG trumpet, Olds Super Recording trumpet, Kanstul COL103 trumpet, and Schilke B1 trumpet. I found that each of the horns had their own very minor differences in tuning, but that all of them had the same common tendencies that you normally find with any trumpet. The usual tuning problems, that all trumpet players know, were the same with every horn including the Kanstul Soprano. Putting a horn up and playing it warm or cold, there were no major tuning differences with any horn and I was able to stop all 5 marks on the strobe with every horn. "A corps can more easily sell their old horns to buy new"... WHY? Why is it necessary to replace horns every year or two? Why not use the horns as long as they are playable and presentable? If you budget properly and plan ahead, you have prepared to invest in new horns when it is necessary rather than the current model of selling off horns to buy new every couple years. I am not saying keep the horns until the silver is completely worn off and they have been dented and repaired so many times that the finish is completely messed up, but as long as they are in a condition that they are a quality performance tool. Also, I personally would not buy a used horn from a corps when I can buy a new one from the company for a little more and get a full warranty. "Colleges and high schools look at what drum corps are using when they are looking to buy new horns"... I can say that every time I have been involved int he purchase of new horns for the high schools I have worked at, even being a drum corps nut, I have never considered who is playing on what make of horns. I also know other directors that are the same way. There are so many other factors that come into play that are more heavily weighted than this myth. Not saying that old corps were bad and didn't care about musicality, but with the extra emphasis now placed on musucality, I would love to hear a "modern" top 3 corps playing on a full set of G horns. I think people would be amazed at the sound produced and the quality of that sound. ---Bob---

They have a facebook page..... Sin City Regiment

10 days away...ok, I guess I will go!

If I weren't so busy with SoCal Dream, I would be there. VK was the first corps I ever played in an arc with under Dan Z. It would be great to see some people from back then. Maybe after Dream is done with the California shows, or next year I can come down.

Thanks for your help with this! When we did the math, if all of our members friends would vote just 3 times(1 minute on 3 separate days), we would definately win the Pacific division and be awarded $100K. If we could get more support with how many people are on DCP, who knows? We could be the national winner and be awarded $250K! Either of these awards would go a long way to ensure the future of SoCal Dream. If any of you have a spare moment and simply click the link, you would be helping support drum corps on the west coast and it wouldn't even cost you a penny. If you made it a habit and took just one minute every day, that would be even better. I know these voting things can get to look real spammy, but this is a real deal and a drum corps is in the finals....Please vote, we would appreciate it.

I know there are a lot of Facebook voting things going on and you can suddenly be clicking for what seems like forever. But I just want to ask you again, please help SoCal Dream in this process. We have suddenly slipped to 14th place this week and need you help to get to the next round. If you can spare a few moments of your online time, please click the link below and vote for us once a day, every day. Thank you!! http://www.vivint.com/givesbackproject/charity/205

Anyone have a good, playable Kanstul 3v mello they want to loan/rent/sell? Right now I have a Die-nasty in my hands and it is the stufiest thing I have ever played. Need it right way for this season w/SoCal Dream so PM or respond here with price and phtos if you can. Thanks!

If my corps goes, I will go. Other than that, eventhough I enjoy drum corps, it is too far and too expensive to justify going.

I can tell you that in SoCal, this is not allowed and we are quite strict about it. In fact, being that we perform in Ca under the DCi umberlla, we follow their rules on this. We have had people come to us that we found out owed a DCi corps. We told them, settle with them and come back. Our contract has a question about it, but of course that relies on someone being honest. If we find out later, we will tell them they have to settle up with that corps before they can come back to us. On the other side of the coin, since we are fully fee driven, we have to protect our income. If we see someone that owes us money marching with another corps, we will approach that director and make them aware of the situation. And definately do not come to us if you owe the Renegades money! I think they are just like us having to rely on member fees. They need their money too.

While this was initially bad news, everything turned out OK in the end. We found a great setting for our early season music rehearsals. We missed a few people in the last minute location change, but we will be in contact and get them back into the fold. The battery and pit were up the hill to the left having a great sectional. First rehearsal of the season and we read through the entire show, started really digging into the music, and played through the opener with the battery at the end of rehearsal. Our show will be complete when we take the field for the first time on July 2nd.